Committee for a Better Environment

-Committee for a Better Environment Via Teleconferencing through Zoom August 28, 2023 – 7:00 PM Staff Present Absent Janet McCaslin X Susan Whitney, Councilmember X (a7:54pm) Alan Hew, Councilmember X (a 8:02pm) Members Term Expires Present Absent Alexa Bely 6/30/2025 X Brendan Hall 6/30/2024 X Wentao Guo 6/30/2025 X Todd Larsen 6/30/2026 X Nikki Pancho (a 7:08pm) 6/30/2025 X William “Donnie” Scally 6/30/2026 X Nicole Sieck 6/30/2026 X Stacy Teng 6/30/2025 X Caroline Wick 6/30/2026 X Janice Wallace 6/30/2026 X Also Present: Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting began at 7:05pm by Todd Larsen, Chair. 1. Ms. Wick motioned and Ms. Bely seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carries 9-0-0. 2. The July 24, 2023, minutes were reviewed. Attendance was corrected. Ms. Bely motioned, and Ms. Wallace seconded to accept the minutes with amended changes. Motion carries 10-0-0. 3. City activities: a. There is $12,000.00 currently in CBE’s budget. However, $6,000.00 has been set aside for the Better Bags and electric mowers and blowers. b. Due to the Labor Day holiday, trash and recycling is pushed forward by one day. c. Councilmember Hew inquired about lights on street poles to LED light bulbs. The poles at 52nd Avenue and 53rd Avenue already have LED light bulbs. Pepco will work with the municipalities to change over to LED light bulbs; however, the municipalities would need to be charged. The cost of the LED light bulbs must be approved by the Public Service Commission. Thus far, approval from the PSC has not been given. 4. The permaculture sign has arrived. It needs to be placed in a garden and not in grass. Suggestion was made to place it by the Nanking Bush Cherries or near the apple trees and  witch hazel by Tecumseh. The committee decided to have Ms. McCaslin work with Brenda Alexander on the best location for the sign. 5. National Clean-up Day is Saturday, September 16. The city is signed up to participate and information should be out on social media. 6. The Prince George’s County ordinance that plasticware, condiments, and napkins will only be in take-out meals upon request went into effect June 1, 2023, and will be enforced starting October 1, 2023. 7. At the Saturday, August 19 Hollywood Farmers Market, Mr. Larsen, Ms. Wallace, and Ms. Sieck handed out reusable produce bags. 8. Continuation of labeling the trees on the trolley trail will begin after the Electric Vehicle event is held. 9. Good Neighbor Day is October 21. Projects will include: a. Weeding of the Permaculture Garden b. Placing medallions on storm drains, weather permitting. 10. Mr. Scally will be taking over coordinating storm drain murals. Julie Stockard will be contacted about painting the storm drain at Cherokee and Rhode Island Avenue. 11. Once the Electric Vehicle event is held, the work will begin on the Sustainability Survey. 12. The Electric Vehicle event will be held on Saturday, September 23 from 10:00am- 1:00pm with Saturday, September 30 as a rain date. It will be held at the Hollywood Shopping Center, near the Farmer’s Market. The event is being promoted via social media and flyers. Kevin Blackwell is willing to loan a city-branded tent for the event. 13. Ms. Wallace updated the Green Award brochure, and a copy was previously emailed to the committee. Ms. Wick motioned and Ms. Pancho seconded to adopt the brochure with suggested changes. Motion carries 10-0-0. 14. College Park Day is October 7 from 12:00Noon-6:00pm at the College Park Airport. CBE will have a table under the city tent. Mr. Guo, Mr. Larsen, and Ms. Sieck volunteered to work the table. Suggestions were made to have information on curbside food scrap program, recycling, composting. There is a trifold display on the food scrap program that can be placed at the table. FYI composting bins purchased through the city are $20 for residents and $40 for non-residents – a significant savings from purchasing them at a retail store. 15. The Bee City information was not available to share at this meeting.  16. Municipal Scene Articles: a. October – composting – Ms. Wick b. November suggestion – heating – will be finalized at the September CBE meeting. 17. TLB report: a. Brenda Alexander will be retiring at year end. b. There will be a tree giveaway on September 30 at the College Park Airport. This is a collaborative effort between MNCPPC and TLB. c. Vine removal educational door hangers will be created to hand out to residents. d. Trees will be added around Paint Branch and Sunnyside. e. The tree canopy process is not easy to follow. Many residents feel the process has fewer opportunities to minimize tree loss. 18. The next CBE meeting will be on September 25, 2023, at 7:00pm. Instructions will be sent out via email prior to the meeting date. Ms. Wick motioned and Ms. Sieck seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:35pm. Motion carries 10-0-0. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.